49 days, 2 hours and 36 minutes. At the time of writing, that is all that stands between Italy and the commencement of the biggest showpiece in world football. La Coppa del Mondo. As Marcello Lippi begins to construct his squad for South Africa, Italians across the country and beyond will await his decisions with much anticipation and in the hope that the wily old tactician will once again lead the Azzurri to glory for a fifth time.